DISCUSSION RESERVES AND PRODUCTION OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL BITUMEN Chairman: S. R. AYALA NIETO (Mexico) In this paper, the author makes an exhaustive review of the worldwide known reserves of heavy oil, extra-heavy oil and bitumen, as well as a survey of the status of technologies applied for the recovery of these kinds of crude oil. Mr. L. ANDERSEN (U.S.A.) was interested in the injection of liquid oxygen in water-liquid oxygen mixtures. Mr. TEDESCHI said that he had reviewed what is going on around the world in heavy oil extraction, but he was not an expert on the subject of liquid oxygen and had not had the opportunity to review it in depth. Mr. H. SCHULER (U.S.A.) asked about the amount and kind of crudes included in Venezuela's reserves. Mr. TEDESCHI replied that there are about six million barrels included in the total reserves; it is difficult to classify these crudes in the reservoir. Mr. SCHULER completed his question by asking how they decided not to count all the 230 billion barrels of the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela's total reserves. Mr TEDESCHI explained that this follows the policy of the Ministry of Mines, which indicates that it is necessary to have production in a particular area to classify it as proved reserves. Dr. C. MASTERS (U.S.A.) asked about plans for the production of heavy oil in the Orinoco Belt by the turn of the century. Mr. TEDESCHI commented that they have considered three different ways of producing the Orinoco Belt: the first, by traditional production, covers about 200 000 BPD; the second includes 400000 or 500000 BPD to be produced as orimulsion ; the third is through a strategic associ- ation, making in total around one million barrels. Mr. G. J. VACA COCA (U.S.A.) commented on the economic considerations implicit in the definition of reserves, and asked for the justification for includ- ing the Orinoco Belt crude in the reserves of Vene- zuela. Mr. TEDESCHI reminded him that only a small amount of the Orinoco Belt is included in Venezuela's total reserves-less than seven per cent of the total. The author further explained that in Venezuela this crude is produced at a cost below $3 per barrel, so it is possible and still economic to spend $8 or $9 for upgrading and mixing it with water to sell as orimulsion. He concluded that the definition whereby reserves have to be economically recoverable has been respected. Mr. P. UNGERER (France) asked the author to elaborate on the method used to heat heavy oil in reservoirs by electromagnetic waves. Mr. TEDESCHI commented that this method is only in the experimental stage; there are a few experiments in hand which are trying to bring this method to the point at which production in small but increasing quantities is possible. Mr. C. MABILE (France) solicited Mr. TEDESCHI'S personal views on the technologies which must be boosted to enhance heavy oil pro- duction. Mr. TEDESCHI pointed out that the best approach was to st

THE STATUS AND PREDICTION OF EOR METHODS APPLICATION IN THE U.S.S.R. S. A. Zhdanov and M. L. Surguchev, All-Union Oil and Gas Scientifîc Research Institute (VNZI), IO Dmitrovsky Proezd, Moscow, U.S.S.R. Abstract. Summarized results of EOR methods application in the U.S.S.R. are presented in the paper. On the basis of comparative analysis of actual data, the probability of successful EOR methods application have been evaluated for specific conditions, and the most preferable geologic parameters have been highlighted. Some peculiarities of EOR methods application in domestic oil fields have been considered, including those in Western Siberia. The results of multivariant prediction of EOR methods application in the U.S.S.R. are presented. Résumé. Cette communication résume les résultats de l'application des méthodes de RAH en U.R.S.S. Sur la base d'une analyse comparée de données réelles, on évalue la probabilité de succès de I'application des méthodes de RAH dans des conditions spécifiques et on souligne les paramètres géologiques préférables. On observe quelques particularités de l'application des méthodes de RAH dans les gisements pétroliers soviétiques, y compris ceux en Sibérie occidentale. On présente les résultats de la prévision multivariante dans l'application de méthodes de RAH en U.R.S.S. 1. INTRODUCTION The method of artificial reservoir flooding is the main one used for U.S.S.R. oil field development; it covers about 95% of domestic total oil production. To date, the design oil recovery factor in the U.S.S.R. due to this technique is higher than in other world oil-producing countries but it still does not exceed 40%. Recent years have been characterized by a con- stant and considerable structural deterioration of oil reserves. Oil fields with low reservoir permeability, high viscous oils and more complicated geological structures are now put into operation. Under such conditions a conventional flooding technique cannot always provide for high oil recovery factors. In the Soviet Union as well as other countries, more attention is paid to the problem of searching for and implementing new reservoir stimulation methods for a significant increase of development efficiency. Lately the scope of thermal, gas and chemical EOR methods in the country is constantly increasing. 2. STATUS OF EOR TECHNIQUES APPLICATION To date in the U.S.S.R. all the known EOR tech- niques are being examined and applied, some of them for commercial oil field development. Tables I and II present some generalized data con- cerning the application scope of thermal, gas and chemical techniques. EOR techniques were implemented in 354 areas of 173 domestic oil fields in the past 25 years. Presently 247 areas in 157 oil fields are in operation. It is clear that in ten years the total number of areas increased more than four times though the ratio of the number of operating areas to the total number decreased from 0.8 to